I speak from experience when I say that teen mentoring is not easy at all.

I was an A-B Average student at age 14. I was part of the Color guard program; I played on the girls Basketball and Volleyball team, and I was the student body Vice President at my school.

Schoolwork came easy to me, especially Reading, Writing and Spelling. I was really good at many sports and making and keeping friends.

My Job for merely $45.00 a month, a stipend check, at the time was to spend 15 hours in a week teen mentoring in the area needed most.

Teen mentoring was different for each student.

It was my job to become their friend.

On the positive side it was a great experience to be exposed to the lifestyles and needs of other children. Learning how other people’s lives differed from mine and how the individual circumstances and environment as well as cultural upbringing affected each individual differently. This exposure alone was definitely priceless.

Teen mentoring also provided me with early hands on experience working with children which was beneficial to me for future jobs.

For the children being mentored I was a positive role model. They could relate to me because I was closer to their age.

I found creative ways to make everything I did fun. I also had the opportunity to provide options. Showing the student there was more than one way to resolve a problem or assignment.

Teen mentoring was also easy because school age children look up to teens.

They are easily influenced by the way teens dress, behave and speak. Children want to be a part of something. They want a sense of belonging.

This setting was positive because I had plenty of support and supervision. There were guidelines set for each child I worked for.

I was explained what the circumstances were and then I had to provide a months worth of lesson plans detailing how my teen mentoring time would be spent.

It was also great because I had a huge responsibility and I took pride in setting a good example. I knew being a good role model meant I had to behave and keep up my grades. I really loved teen mentoring.

Sometimes it involved helping with spelling or math homework. Sometimes they just needed someone to talk to about what bothered them most whether it is someone picking on them at school, a dislike for school in general, or a problem at home.

Many times in addition… CONTINUE READING

Pat Wyman is the founder of HowToLearn.com and a best selling author.

She teaches at California State University, East Bay and is known as America’s Most Trusted Learning Expert. She helps children and adults solve learning problems with her Amazing Grades Study Skills System and is an expert in learning styles.

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